Water Use Efficiency in United States
United States: Water Use Efficiency was 49.26 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Water Use Efficiency in United States, 2000–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
United States recorded 49.26 for water use efficiency in 2023. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 32.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, water use efficiency in United States peaked at 49.26 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 24.17, in 2000.
That places United States 53rd out of 182 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Water Use Efficiency in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 24.17 | — |
| 2001 | 24.41 | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 24.84 | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 25.52 | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 26.47 | +3.7% |
| 2005 | 27.44 | +3.7% |
| 2006 | 29.02 | +5.8% |
| 2007 | 30.45 | +4.9% |
| 2008 | 31.4 | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 31.57 | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 33.47 | +6.0% |
| 2011 | 34.49 | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 35.9 | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 37.26 | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 38.93 | +4.5% |
| 2015 | 41.25 | +6.0% |
| 2016 | 41.63 | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 42.65 | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 43.93 | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 45.1 | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 44.12 | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 46.72 | +5.9% |
| 2022 | 47.83 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 49.26 | +3.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 49.26 is below the median for high income countries, which is 71.58, 69% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 27.53 | 24.17 | 31.57 | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.46 | 33.47 | 45.1 | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.98 | 44.12 | 49.26 | 4 |
Countries ranked near United States
More environment data for United States
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.64 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -2.16 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.3672 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate -0.624 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual 0.1269 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is water use efficiency in United States?
- Water use efficiency in United States was 49.26 in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest water use efficiency recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 49.26 in 2023.
- What is the lowest water use efficiency recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.17 in 2000.
- How does United States rank for water use efficiency?
- United States ranks 53rd out of 182 countries with data for 2023.
- Is water use efficiency rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Water Use Efficiency (United States dollars per cubic meter). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).